LORO Parque has been named the world’s No.1 zoo by TripAdvisor, the prestigious, global travel site, via its annual Travellers’ Choice 2017. The actual award, voted for by visitors to the Santa Cruz attraction, is called the “Best Zoological Park In The World”.

It is yet another acknowledgement of the zoo’s efforts towards the conservation of biodiversity, and raising awareness about the protection of the natural habitats of wildlife on the planet.

The award is also true recognition for Loro Parque’s commitment to animal welfare, and stands alongside several other honours bestowed on the huge attraction.

Earlier this year, the park received a Humane Certified certificate from renowned animal-welfare organisation American Humane, for its treatment of the animals.

It is the first zoo in Europe to have obtained this standard, and Loro Parque confirmed its full compliance with the Global Welfare Standards of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, after earning a 100% rating from the Global Spirit auditors.

The ABTA members include tourism leaders such as Thomas Cook and TUI UK.

Loro Parque’s recognition by Trip Advisor subscribers as the best animal-welfare zoo could not be grasped fully without their knowledge of its research and conservation programme, carried out since 1994 through the Loro Parque Fundación.

Thanks to the support of the park, its partners, visitors, friends and collaborators, more than 17 million dollars have been directly invested in the development of conservation programmes, there and elsewhere, following its “100% for Nature” commitment.

Among many significant successes, including important achievements in the marine environment, Loro Parque Fundación’s work has rescued nine species of parrots from imminent extinction.

Examples include the Blue-throated macaw, originally of Beni, Bolivia, whose population has increased from 50 to 350 individuals with the project.

Another development, at the same time, is the evolution of Lear’s Macaw, whose population has increased from 22 to over 1,200 individuals, as well as Columbia’s Yellow-eared parrot. Its numbers have increased to over 4,000 individuals, thanks to the efforts of a project to save the palm tree, habituated by these parrots.

In 1999, before Loro Parque Fundación started this project, there were just 82 individuals of this species, who had been left in the wild.